Hello people and welcome to chapter 10! Enjoy!
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Genevieve woke up to the warm sun hitting her face lightly through the trees. She glimpsed slightly, her eyes still adjusting to the bright of day. Genevieve moved her arms to stretch but something stopped her, she looked to the side to find a sleeping Connor next to her, one of his arms were wrapped tightly around her waist and their legs were entwined with each other's.
Genevieve blushed. "I must have fallen asleep next to him last night." She shrugged and carefully untangled her legs from Connor's, trying not to disturb him. Success! Genevieve then focused on his hand wrapped around her waist. She slowly moved her hand to his, grabbing it softly and making him release his grip on her, then lowering his hand to the ground slowly. Genevieve let go of the breath she didn't even know she was holding. She got up slowly and made her way over to a fallen log and leaned against it. Something in the grass shifted, Genevieve flinched but she realized it was only Connor. His hair was all messed up from his sleep which made her smile; it was a pretty funny sight.
"Morning sleepy head." Genevieve greeted in between small fits of laughter.
"To you as well," Connor didn't understand why she was laughing. "What is so funny?"
"Your hair is a tad messy." Connor blushed and reached up to his head and combed his hair with his fingers quickly. Genevieve laughed even more at this. "That was priceless." She wiped a tear from under her eye. "Should we get going?" Connor grunted in affirmation and walked towards his horse with Genevieve following behind. They mounted the mares and cantered off towards Boston. They rode in silence again, which she hated because it was so boring and not to mention awkward. To pass the time Genevieve sung a song to herself that her grandmother had taught her when she was younger.
"Au clair de la luneMon ami PierrotPrete-moi ta plumePour écrire un mot.Ma chandelle est morteJe n'ai plus de feuOuvre-moi ta portePour l'amour de Dieu." She sang quietly, almost in a whisper. "Au clair de la lunePierrot reponditJe n'ai pas de plumeJe suis dans mon lit."
"What is that song you sing?" Connor asked.
"I am not sure; my grandmother never told me the name. All I know is that it is French."
"It is quite beautiful."
"It is." Genevieve agreed.
"Have you been to France?"
"No sadly, but I've always wanted too. Sorry the song must be annoying; I'll stop if it's distracting." Genevieve apologized.
"It does not bother me." Connor smiled slightly under his hood. Genevieve smiled back and continued singing the song until it ended.
Boston soon came into view and she sighed from relief, Genevieve could finally get off the horse! The two walked through the city, asking for Adams' whereabouts here and there, until he finally came into view surrounded by a group of men who were talking rather softly but in serious tones. Connor dismounted his horse and so did Genevieve who took the reins in her hands, walking towards Sam's direction swiftly.
"Ah, Connor, hello again." He looked at Genevieve with a confused expression. "And who might this be?" He asked Connor gesturing to her.
"Genevieve." She greeted putting out her hand for him to shake it, he smiled and took it.
"Samuel Adams, a pleasure." Genevieve nodded and lingered back with the two horses so the men could talk, but close enough so she could eavesdrop on their conversation.
"What brings you two to Boston?" Adams asked finally.
"You." Sam looked back at the other men.
"If you would excuse us, gentlemen." He gave an indication for Connor and Genevieve to follow. "Thank you, that conversation was about to turn unpleasant. Now, what can I do for you?"
"We were hoping you could help us locate William Johnson." Connor said.
"Of course. I'm headed to a meeting with some men who should be able to help. Why don't you come along?" They turned a corner, walking into a new street. "It's good to see the people finally taking a stand against injustice…"
"Says the man who owns a slave."
Adams let out a small laugh. "Who, Surry? I practise what I preach, my friend. She's not a slave, but a freed woman…at least on paper. Men's minds are not so easily turned. It's a tragedy that for all our progress, still we cling to such barbarism."
"Then speak out against it." Connor stated simply.
"We must focus on defending our rights. When this is done, we'll have the luxury of addressing these other matters." Adams defended.
"You speak as though your condition is equal to that of the slaves. It is not."
"Tell that to my neighbour- who was compelled to quarter British troops. Or to my friend whose store was closed because he displeased the Crown. The people here are no freer and Surry." He explained. The three eventually came along a man telling some redcoat officers and a tax collector that the building he was in was 'his house'. The tax collector threatened him, but the man disappeared suddenly, he came back to dump his chamber pot contents on them. The redcoats smashed through the windows and at the same time the man barged out his door and tackled one of the officers to the ground.
"I trust the mounting evidence is proof enough." Sam said to the two assassins.
"Continue on. I shall meet you at our destination." He said to Adams. Then Connor looked at Genevieve. "You too."
"What? I am just as skilled assassin as you are now Connor." She countered.
"I know, but I can take on the guards by myself. You are not needed." Connor said simply and moved towards the guards. Genevieve huffed and threw a couple of glares his way. She turned back to Adams and offered a small smile to him.
"Lead the way." Genevieve said. Adams nodded and they walked through the large city silently. She led the horses behind her still gripping the reins.
"If you don't mind me asking Genevieve," Adams began, looking at her for approval. She nodded for him to continue. "It seems to me that you and Connor are close. I am sorry if this is too much of a personal question."
"No, no it's fine." She waved off his last comment. "We are close I guess, but not to that extent." Samuel nodded and they continued walking to the meeting destination. Genevieve smiled to herself. She forgot that she had been living with Connor for more than six weeks.
I guess time flies when you're having fun, Genevieve thought to herself.
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Connor had finished off the guards that were troubling the man and was making his way to the meeting. He entered the building to find the man he had defended, another man he did not know, Adams and Genevieve standing around a table.
"Connor!" Samuel greeted loudly. "I'd like you to meet some like-minded friends. The owner of this fine establishment, William Molineux," He gestured the man who was standing next to Genevieve. "And the manager and chef of his newest venue, Stephane Chapeau."
"Ah, Connor and I just had a ball with some redcoats enforcing some taxmen outside my home!" Stephane exclaimed.
"The collectors grow bolder and more forceful. Something we must address, Samuel." William said.
"Then let us raise a banner." Samuel suggested to the group. "Something to let the people know that they are not alone. The dicks are an angry place of late, protestors picketing the latest shipments of British tea. The eyes of the city are upon that stage…"
"A Bostonian without his tea is a dangerous beast!" Stephane interrupted.
Sam raised an eyebrow and William began to speak. "William Johnson is smuggling the tea off the ships- one of his mean tried to sell me this." He held up the sample of the tea and placed it on the table. "A sample of what I refused, but it's from those ships- no mistaking the stamp. He's charging a King's ransom, must be he's making a mint off those who buy it."
"Where is he now?" Genevieve asked.
"I've never met the man." William admitted.
Sam turned towards Connor. "May I ask why you seek him, Connor?"
Connor sighed. "He intends to purchase the land upon which my village stands without the consent of my people."
"No doubt the revenue from his little smuggling endeavour is financing the acquisition. A tax enforced on tea grants a boon to smugglers. I'll wager the same men who levy the taxes are selling the tea. A stage requires a spectacle and I may know the play. Connor and Genevieve, head back to the docks and see to the destruction of the tea. If you should need us return here."
Connor and Genevieve exited the building swiftly. Genevieve pulled her hood up to conceal her face. Connor made his way over to a taxman who was carrying a crate of tea and 'accidently' bumping into him making the man drop the crate.
"Pardon me." Connor apologised.
"Aw, come on, mate." The taxman complained before walking away.
A smile crept onto Genevieve's face. "This is going to be fun." She muttered slyly before walking towards the docks.
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Well that was Chapter 10! Thank you all for your support by the way! It makes me so happy seeing a new review! By the way I will be updating every 1-4 days now because of homework and so I can make each chapter a little longer. Thanks for reading! –Lildoll98